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Top 10 Hires of the Week

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GPY&R Melbourne

GPY&R Melbourne has promoted Jake Barrow to the position of creative director. Barrow has been with the agency for four years and has lead multi award winning projects for Schweppes, Public Transport Victoria and the Australian Defence Force.

Barrow won four Lions last month at the Cannes Lions Awards, adding to the four Gold Lions he won for the Mobile Medic campaign in 2013. He has also been awarded at D&AD for the last three years in a row and in 2013 was amongst the top ten art directors in the world in the Gunn Report. Recent growth in the agency has facilitated the introduction of his Creative Director role.



GPY&R Melbourne has promoted Jake Barrow to the position of creative director

GPY&R Melbourne chief creative officer Ben Coulson, said: “One look at Jake’s folio will tell you he is world class. He knows what’s good and what isn’t, makes top shelf work and delivers large bags of awards. He’d make a great Creative Director in any of the top agencies. I’m very proud he’s taking the gig with us.”

Julian Bell, managing partner at GPY&R Melbourne, added: “With the agency growing steadily, it’s the right time to expand the creative leadership. Jake is hugely respected within the agency and amongst our clients. We very warmly welcome him to the management team.”

 

VCCP

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VCCP has hired Tim Vickery as Director of SEO. Before joining VCCP, Vickery was the Head of SEO at Performics, a division of Zenith Optimedia, providing strategic insight to the EMEA team, and leading search campaigns for global brands such as Reckitt Benckiser, Nestlé, and 3M. The new appointment further strengthens VCCP’s SEO offering, following the agency’s launch of VCCP Search in 2007. Tim will work across the partnership, focusing on VCCP Kin, VCCP’s content and social media division, and VCCP Media. He will report into Ruth Barton, MD of VCCP Kin.

VCCP has hired Tim Vickery as Director of SEO

Ruth Barton, MD of VCCP Kin, said: “SEO has long been integral to our offering across the VCCP Partnership, with this thinking baked into our work in Content, Digital Production and Media. Tim is a proper grown up in the SEO space who can offer both strategic and technical skills to all areas of the business.” Vickery added: “I am thrilled to join the team at VCCP, and look forward to helping develop the enterprise grade SEO offerings across the VCCP Partnership. It is an exciting time for brands in the organic search space – and I am looking forward to working with VCCP’s clients to deliver advanced, creative and technically sound search solutions.”

 

FCB Inferno

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FCB Inferno has made 5 new senior hires this year, which were completed last month. Reporting into CEO Frazer Gibney, Paul Blundell has been appointed as director of interactive & innovation. He heads up a permanent team of 30 interactive specialists covering Technology, UX, Design, Delivery, QA, Social & SEO/PPC. They sit as a "mesh" across agency functions rather than a separate distinct offering/ team - they work hand in hand with Planning, Strategy and Creative in a collaborative and integrated approach. Paul joins from BMB where he was Head of Interactive. Other senior hires include: Adrien Friend as head of technology; Gilles Bestley from AMV BBDO as head of interactive design; Lee Whitelock, as head of user experience, and Jonathan Acton, as head of interactive delivery.

FCB Inferno has made 5 new senior hires this year, which were completed last month

FCB Inferno digital creative director Tim Palmer, said: “We are an integrated agency with digital at the heart of what we do. Interactive and innovation is not a last thought, but instead included at the briefing stage and ideation, and it is something that each and every employee at FCB Inferno understands and delivers upon.” Blundell added: “Our recent run of success proves we have the right culture and skills required of an agency to be successful in today’s ever changing landscape. We have ‘interactive’ sitting as a mesh across all agency functions, which might mean UX and Technology specialists helping shape thinking with the Strategy team, or with Creatives and Developers working together to deliver rapid prototypes to help convey our ideas to clients. It’s this level of collaboration that helps us unlock our clients business problems.”

 

Big Spaceship

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Big Spaceship, the Brooklyn-based creative agency, has announced the appointment of Andrea Ring to the role of chief strategy officer, a new position at the company. This appointment comes on the heels of continued growth and strong new business momentum for the shop, which recently celebrated its 15 year anniversary in March and hired Cedric Devitt as its first ever Chief Creative Officer. Starting July 20, Ring, who joins Big Spaceship from R/GA, will report directly to the agency’s Founder and CEO, Michael Lebowitz. As chief strategy officer, she will be responsible for leading Big Spaceship’s burgeoning strategy discipline, and will also be charged with sharpening the overall strategic vision and approach for the agency, as well as bringing her expertise to its business development practice.

Big Spaceship has announced the appointment of Andrea Ring to the role of chief strategy officer

Lebowitz said: “Andrea's addition to the leadership team is pivotal as we look to expand our capabilities and strengthen our commitment to our clients. Not only is she an expert in her field, she’s a strong cultural fit and a proven leader who will no doubt be a key driver in our continued growth and success.” Rings added: “I had the pleasure of building my own team at R/GA from the ground up – I’m an innate builder of things - and I’m beyond excited to step into this leadership position and continue growing the team of expert strategists at Big Spaceship.”

 

Leo Burnett Hong Kong

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Jarek Ziebinski, CEO and chairman, Leo Burnett Asia Pacific has announced the appointment of Alex Lee as chief executive officer for Leo Burnett Hong Kong. 

In a career that spanned close to two decades across Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, Lee has a well-rounded set of experience that includes operational management, regional and global client management, digital leadership as well as organisational transformation.

Alex Lee has been appointed as chief executive officer for Leo Burnett Hong Kong


Speaking about Lee’s appointment, Ziebinski said, “For years, Leo Burnett Hong Kong has been playing an instrumental role behind the marketing success of some of the biggest local and global brands. Alex’s experience and not to mention robust track record in operational, integrated and digital; as well as regional and global client management, represents the kind of leadership we need to steer the agency to the next level.” Lee added: “Leo Burnett Hong Kong is one of our biggest offices in Asia with a strong client roster and proven track record. I am excited to take this office and our clients’ business to greater heights; one of future-facing, digital-focused and effectively-creative partnership that delivers results.”

 

LIDA

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Direct agency LIDA has appointed Simon Calvert as chief strategy officer. He joins the agency in August from gyro where he served as chief strategy & technology officer. In his new role at LIDA he will report into the agency’s CEO Victoria Fox, and will be responsible for the agency's planning department and strategic capabilities. He will work closely with clients such as O2, IKEA and Land Rover. Bringing a wealth of agency experience to LIDA, Calvert joins the senior management line-up alongside Matthew Heath, Nicky Bullard and Victoria Fox. He will sit on the LIDA management board. Calvert has had a long agency career, working at shops including Mindshare Worldwide, Digitas, EuroRSCG, McCann, Saatchi & Saatchi, Michaelides & Bednash and DraftFCB. During his time, he has worked across a variety of multi-national brands including HSBC, Unilever, American Express, VW, Nestle and NIVEA.

LIDA has appointed Simon Calvert as chief strategy officer

Fox said: “With technology and data flooding the market the direct industry is rapidly changing and it’s an exciting time for all at LIDA. We are set to continue our growth and we have hired Simon to help lead the way. There aren’t many in this business with Simon’s track record and his rich knowledge and experience in CRM, advertising, digital, media and technology will help us decode the opportunities for true personalisation across channels and translate these into strategies that can provide real commercial advantage for our clients. He also has the brain the size of the planet, which helps.” Calvert added: “LIDA have a phenomenal reputation and the agency has a fantastic set of clients. I look forward to helping to continue new impressive growth and development.”

 

Grey Group India

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Grey Group India has announced the appointment of Sandipan Bhattacharyya as its chief creative officer effective August 1 2015. 

Bhattacharyya was previously creative director of the Grey Mumbai office. 

In his last assignment, he was the ECD at BBDO India and was one of the five members who set up the agency in India. During his tenure, he drove the creative energy of many prominent clients and brands including PepsiCo, General Electric, Aviva Life Insurance, Hewlett- Packard, P&G Gillette and Wrigley.



Grey Group India has announced the appointment of Sandipan Bhattacharyya as its chief creative officer

Nirvik Singh, chairman and CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific, said: “Sandipan will be a fabulous asset to Grey Group India. His work has proven to be one of the best in the industry, and we are excited that he is joining us. It will definitely further strengthen the creative fire power on which we place so much emphasis at Grey.” Bhattacharyya added: “What’s interesting in today’s ad landscape is what I call free-styling. No rules, no limits, just format-defying, medium-bending work. And guess what, it’s all happening at Grey. My chats with Tor and Per just made one thing amply clear – I’d be a fool to pass up this opportunity!”

 

RE

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RE, M&C Saatchi’s branding consultancy, has appointed highly decorated branding specialist Chris Maclean as creative director. 

Maclean joins RE from the post as ECD of Interbrand, a business he was instrumental in building from zero to global respect in just seven years.

 Manchester, UK born and bred, Maclean’s collection of design awards is testament to his work having impressed awards judges all over the globe, including at D&AD, Cannes (Design Lion), Spikes Asia, Brand New Awards (Best in Show), New York Festivals, Type Directors Club of America, and numerous AGDA awards.



RE, M&C Saatchi’s branding consultancy, has appointed highly decorated branding specialist Chris Maclean as creative director

RE managing director Patrick Guerrera said of Maclean: “He has inspired the Australian and global brand community for almost six years now. We are truly excited about his vision for RE, and introducing a new chapter of creative brilliance and ingenuity to RE," he said.

"His work on the Telstra rebrand is now iconic, and we look forward to Chris bringing that scale of vision and brand ambition to all our clients.”

 Maclean added: “RE knows branding is so much more exciting than creating rigid corporate identities and has the power to change the world. And, of course with the strength of the M&C Saatchi Group behind it, RE has even more potential to create brands that have a real impact on the world in a way that’s positive and inspiring. I’m excited to join Patrick and the team to write RE’s next chapter together.”

 

Cut + Run

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Cut+Run New York announced this week that Stacy Peterson has been promoted to editor and Julia Williams has been promoted to head of production. Peterson joins a New York-based editor roster that features Jon Grover, Akiko Iwakawa, Joel Miller, Gary Knight, Georgia Dodson, Dan Maloney and TG Herrington. Shortly after graduating with a film degree from Northwestern University, Peterson moved to NY in search of an editing career. A chance but fortuitous introduction to Rana Martin and Akiko Iwakawa, then at Final Cut, led to her first assistant position. Peterson moved to Cut+Run with Iwakawa, and has since collaborated with a variety of the company’s editing talent. Williams, meanwhile, has been a producer with Cut+Run for nearly two years and is widely known and appreciated for focusing her passion for the industry on solutions that make projects and people thrive.

Cut+Run New York promoted Stacy Peterson to editor and Julia Williams has been promoted to head of production this week

EP Rana Martin said of Peterson: “Stacy is a natural born editor and has garnered considerable respect and trust from her fan base. She puts her heart and soul into her editing and exhibits an unwavering commitment to each project. I feel extremely proud to see Stacy evolve to Editor and cannot wait to see the amazing things her future has in store.”” Of Williams, she added: “Julia is a sharp producer and an unyielding source of positivity. She has made a significant contribution to growing and integrating our Offline and Finishing offerings in New York and it shows,”" says EP Rana Martin. “”This promotion is a natural next step for Julia and a tremendous asset for Cut+Run. We couldn't be more excited.””

 

Framestore

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Framestore, the Oscar-winning creative firm and leader in virtual/augmented reality, digital, production, VFX and design, has brought on Resh Sidhu as a creative director of their Virtual Reality Studio. In her new role, Resh will report directly to Christine Cattano, who was recently promoted to Executive Producer of the VR Studio. Resh will use creative direction, storytelling and conceptual ideation to help lead the growing VR team in creating groundbreaking work for clients. Prior to Framestore, Sidhu was a Creative Director at AKQA London, where she lead multi-disciplinary teams serving clients like Xbox, Nivea, and M&S.

Framestore has brought on Resh Sidhu as a creative director of their Virtual Reality Studio

Framestore executive producer Christine Cattano said: “Resh has a one of a kind skill-set and high caliber experience in creating seamless visual work for a variety of clients. Over the next year, we’re focusing on brokering new partnerships with some of the most anticipated VR platforms in the industry. With that will also come opportunities for creating proprietary VR content – pushing the boundaries of what the industry thinks we’re capable of. Adding Resh to the team was vital as we continue to be a pioneering force in virtual reality.” Sedu added: “Joining the Framestore VR Studio represents a unique opportunity to work with some of the most diverse and extraordinary VR specialists in the world. It’s this unique combination of vision and expertise that sets Framestore apart from other companies, and I’m so proud and excited to be a part of the team creating the future.”

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